Shafter 52, Taft 42

Defense and rebounding won this for the Generals.  The team made clear early that Taft's dynamic duo of Lopez and Gee (who are as good as any two players in the SSL) were going to have to work for everything they got.  They didn't get much.   T.J. Parsons played his usual role of defensive stopper, keeping the ball from Lopez and warming it up whenever it did find his hands. But it was the help defense that was the key.  Tyler Gonzalez stayed close the bucket forcing Taft to shoot over him while the guards clogged lanes and flew at three point shooters.  It was a recipe for contested mid-range shot.  Dear readers, contested mid-range shots are the building blocks of losing offense.

This was easily the best win of the year for the Generals.  At the start of SSL play, Taft was the clear favorite to win league.  They had just beaten an Independence team that, even after the loss is ranked 15th in the section and 4th in Kern County.    Since then, Taft lost a close one to BCHS after blowing a big lead.  Shafter now goes up the mountain to Tehachapi 11 and 4 on the season and 2 and 0 in league play.

Correct me if I am wrong, but it looks to me like you have to go back to the 1992-93 season to find a team with a better record to start the season than 11 and 4.  That team started 14 and 3.   We can talk endlessly about schedule strength (the 92-93 team had to face Garces twice in league, but they also played Avenal - and only beat them by 2), however there can be no question that this is a team with potential to go far as they continue to improve.

Also, I didn't see it, but heard that the JV team won their game by 1.